Complex geographical
feature that cultures pearls - Harmony of the tradition and the
modernityMie is situated in the center of the Honshu Island (the mainland
of Japan), in the eastern part of the Kii-hanto Peninsula that juts
out into the Pacific Ocean. It is narrow and spreads north to south.
Its complex geographical features create a variety of climates.

The southern coastline is an irregular and rugged saw-toothed coast.
The eastern coastline is designated as the Ise-Shima National Park,
and is famous for cultured pearls, oysters and Ise lobsters made
possible by the complex geographical features. The area where
designated as the Natural Park is more than one-third of the area of
the entire prefecture, and is the second largest park area. There are
Uga Valley in the Suzuka Quasi-National Park, Doro Valley, Akame
Shiju-hattaki (forty-eight) Falls and many other scenic spots.

The Ise-jingu Shrine, which has been cherished with a nickname "Oise-san"
is also called simply "Jungu (the Shrine)". It enshrines the sun
goddess Amaterasu O-mikami. Over 6 million worshippers visit here each
year. There are also Iga Ninja Museum that exhibits the articles of
the Iga Ninja spies who transformed the mountaineering asceticism into
developed Ninjutsu and handed it down to generations, Shima Spain
Mura, a theme park dedicated to Spain, and the Suzuka Circuit famous
for F1 Grand Prix races. Mie is a home for the tradition and the
modernity, and welcomes a ceaseless flow of visitors.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station or 55 minutes from Osaka Station to Nagoya Station, then
take JR Kansai Main Line or Ise Tetsudo for 58 minutes to Tsu Station.

Akame Shiju-hattaki
Falls
Continual waterfalls of all sizes, deep torrents and rapidsHome of
giant salamandersAkame Shiju-hattaki Falls is a collective term for some 50
waterfalls in the 4 kilometers long Taki-gawa Valley formed by a
tributary of the Nabari-gawa River. Shiju-hattaki literally means
forty-eight falls, this, however, is not the actual number but only
connotes "many". It is known from the geological study on the deep
basins of the falls that they were formed in prehistoric days.

The Taki-gawa Valley is noted as the habitat for precious natural
monuments, giant salamanders. There is Japan Salamander Center at
the gateway to the falls where you can see amphibians from all over
the world. The first fall is 2 minutes walk from there. The legend
has it that Fudo Myo-o, Buddha of Fire, who is believed to save the
people, riding an ox with red eyes revealed himself to a
mountaineering ascetic practicer with a magical power En-no-Ozunu
during disciplinary practice. The name Akame, or red eyes derives
from this legend. As you walk upstream, you will see continual
sights of waterfalls, depths and rapids of all sizes. The highlight
of the tour is the sights of the Five Major Falls of Akame, namely
the Fudo-daki Falls, Senju-daki Falls, Nunobiki-daki Falls,
Ninai-daki Falls and Biwa-daki Falls. After those five falls, the
Gankutsu-daki Falls concludes the tour with its magnificence.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 45 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station, then take Kintetsu Nagoya Line from
Nagoya Station to Ise Nakagawa Station and transfer to Kintetsu
Osaka Line to Akame-guchi Station. It takes 1 hour and 35 minutes.
It takes 10 minutes from Akame-guchi Station to the Akame Falls.

Iga Ueno
The basin of a birthplace for Iga ninja Haisei-den, shaped to
express a figure of Matsuo BashoIga Ueno is situated in western Mie. It is a castle town that
spreads in the northern Iga Basin completely surrounded by
mountains. The city has a neat grid of streets. The samurai's
residences and temple town retain strong reminiscence of the olden
days. It is also famous as the birthplace of the Iga ninja spies.
Iga is one of the ninjutsu schools completed in the 14th century.
The ninjas would infiltrate into the enemy's ground with the
objectives of scouting, stratagems, raids, harassing the rear guard
and other activities with their special skills called ninjutsu. The
Iga Ninja Museum where an actual ninja's residence was transferred,
is a must-see place. The Iga Ueno Castle is famous for the highest
stonewalls in Japan. These stonewalls were selected as the scene for
a movie "Kumonosu-jo" directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Iga is also noted as the hometown of Matsuo Basho, who created
haiku, a unique Japanese style short poetry of 3 lines with 17
syllables, and achieved renovation of the old fashioned haikai, a
linked verse. The Haisei-den, or the great haiku poet's shrine was
built inside the Ueno Park in 1942 commemorating 300th years since
his birth. The building is shaped after the figure of Basho attired
in a traveling clothes. The round roof symbolizes his sedge hat, the
octagonal eaves take after his surplice, the pillar is his cane, and
the frame on the Haisei-den expresses his face. Other Basho related
spots include the Minomushi-an, or bagworm hermitage and the
Venerable Basho Memorial Hall, Basho-o Kinenkan Museum.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 45 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. Then, take JR Kansai Main Line from
Nagoya Station to Iga Ueno Station and transfer to Kintetsu Iga Line
to Uenoichi Station. It takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Ise
Meoto-iwa, or the couple rocks, the symbol of IseNaturally carved
rocks in strange shapes or in heart-shaped gateIse, located in the northwestern part of Shima-hanto Peninsula
in Mie, has prospered as the temple town of Ise-jingu Shrine.
Okage-yokocho street, lined with more than thirty souvenir shops and
food shops, was created by transporting the 19th and 20th century
buildings to this place. It is a popular place to feel the
traditional atmosphere of a visit to Ise and a fashion at that time.

It is said in ancient mythology that Futami-ga-ura was so beautiful
that Yamato-hime-no-mikoto, a goddess of ancient mythology, looked
back twice to admire that beauty. The name Futami, or looking twice,
derives from this story. At the eastern end, there is Meoto-iwa or
the couple rocks. The bigger rock Otoko-iwa, the male rock, and the
smaller On'na-iwa, the female rock, serve as a natural torii gate
(shrine gate) to Okitama Jinseki, or Okitama-iwa rock, the object of
worship in Okitama-jinja Shrine. Shima-no-Ishi-mon is a strange,
naturally carved rock under the Kanzaki Todai Lighthouse. Do-mon
gate is a rock carved naturally by waves into a heart-shape and is
hidden underwater, emerging only during the low tide before and
after a big tide.

The Ise-Shima Skyline Route starts from the inner precinct of
Ise-jingu Shrine, passes near the top of Mt. Asama-yama, and goes
all the way to Toba. It is a very pleasant drive. Kongosho-ji
Temple, an Important Cultural Property, is on the Skyline route and
the view spot in Tado-Sanjo-koen Park commands a superb view of Toba
Bay, Chita-hanto Peninsula and Atsumi-hanto Peninsula. It is worth
taking time to see the view.

Ise-jingu Shrine
A shrine dedicated to the Sun GoddessBustling with worshippers from
ancient times to present dayThe Ise-Jingu Shrine is the core of sightseeing in Ise. It is
simply referred to as Jingu (the Shrine), and enshrines the Sun
Goddess Amaterasu O-mikami. Over 6 million worshippers visit here
every year. The main shrine has the elevated floor in the Shinmei
zukuri style, which is the oldest shrine architecture style.

The inner shrine in the Ise-jingu Shrine was constructed in 2 BC. It
had been an especially sacred shrine and commoners had not been
allowed to enter, but the ban was lifted in the 12th century, and
since then the area has been thronged with worshippers. The shrine
celebrates annual rituals. The most prominent festival is the Sengu
Festival associated with Shikinen-sengu Ceremony, the installation
of the deity in a new shrine with due ceremony. This festival has
been held every 20 years when the shrine buildings are rebuilt and
the Shinto ceremonies are transferred from the old shrine to the new
shrine. There are many other rituals and ceremonies handed down in
this shrine from ancient times.

It is customary to start the worship procedure from visiting the
Gekuu, or the outer shrine. You cleanse your hands and mouth at the
Temizu-sha washbasin and then worship the Shogu, the main shrine.
There is a Magatama-ike Pond in the Betsugu, the annex shrine, a
spot for relaxation and recreation for the local people. You take a
bus from Gekuu for 20 minutes to reach the gateway to the inner
shrine, Ujihashi Bridge. This bridge is said to separate the secular
world and the sacred world. You walk the right side of the bridge.
You will see another washbasin, Mitarashi, where you should cleanse
your hands and mouth and approach the main shrine.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 45 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. Then, take a limited express on
Kintetsu Line for 1 hour and 20 minutes from Kintetsu Nagoya Station
to Iseshi Station. If you are coming from Osaka, take an express on
Kintetsu Line from Kamihoncho Station in Osaka to Iseshi Station. It
takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Kumano
The saw-toothed coastline facing Kumano-nada Sea Scenic spot of
bluffs, strange rocks and cavesKumano City is located in the southern part of Mie and faces the
Kumano-nada Sea in the east. The northern area is saw-toothed
coastline with rough bluffs, but the southern coast has lightly
curving sand beaches. Higashi-Kumano-kaido, one of the old Kumano
routes that was used by visitors paying respect to Kumano-sanzan
(the three shrines of Kumano Hongu-taisha, Kumano Hayatama-taisha
and Kumano Nachi-taisha) used to pass along the coast.

On the shores facing the Kumano-nada Sea, many scenic spots can be
found, such as Tate-ga-saki, where 70 to 100-meter-high granite
bluffs continue for 600 meters and Oni-ga-jo where countless small
caves and holes are carved by erosion on the cliffs. A promenade is
provided for more than 1 kilometer at Oni-ga-jo and visitors can go
on a 40 minutes tour to the big cave of Senjojiki and around the
unusual rocks Inu-modori and Hachi-no-su-kutsu and others. The
contrast of the green pine trees that line the beach and the blue of
the sea water make Hichirimi-hama Beach, that stretches southward
from Oni-ga-jo for 25 kilometers, a most beautiful scenic place.

Nagashima-onsen Hot
Spring
A riverside district spreads out to the delta by three rivers - An
area with a huge spa and an a amusement parkNagashima-cho Town is located in the northeastern part of Mie in
a delta area by Kiso-gawa River, and Ibi-gawa River. Since the land
is low, people built a bank called Waju in order to develop farms
and to protect them. Farmers still make furrows high (which is
called "taka-une zukuri"). Also, the riverside farm scene remains as
in old days with paddy field boats carrying seedling and manure in
rice fields.

In the southern part of Nagashima, there is Nagashima-onsen Hot
Spring that has the amusement park and recreation center. The site
is 630,000 square meters large and is the largest in kind in the
Tokai region (the Pacific Ocean Coast of central Japan). There, 60
degrees centigrade of hot spring gushes out 10,000 tons per day from
1,600 meters below ground. There is a spa called Sen'nin
(1000-person) Onsen where up to 2000 people can bathe at the same
time. The amusement park has over 30 different, latest kinds of
amusement facilities that both adults and children can enjoy. One of
the attraction rides called "White Cyclone " can run through 1,715
meters of a stretch in 3 minutes, at the top speed of 102 kilometers
per hour. During summer season, a jumbo seawater pool and 10 other
different types of swimming pools and 18 different kinds, 55 lanes
of water slides are open, and crowded with family and young
visitors.

Getting thereBy JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. For 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka
Station to Nagoya Station. By JR Kansai Main Line for 30 minutes
from Nagoya Station to Nagashima Station.

ShimaInternationally famous sightseeing spot with diversified
coastlineThe Shima-hanto Peninsula is situated at the eastern edge of the
Kii-hanto Peninsula. It juts out straight into the Pacific Ocean
from the central Mie. It has a complex saw-toothed coastline with a
number of bays and inlets, including the Matoya Bay, famous for
cultured oysters and the Ago Bay, an Aegean Sea of Japan. The entire
peninsula is designated as the Ise-Shima National Park for its
diversified coastline. It is an internationally famous sightseeing
spot, along with the Ise-jingu Shrine.

The Ago Bay located in the southern Shima-hanto Peninsula has over
60 islets of all sizes. It is famous as the first place in the world
to have produced cultured pearls. The scene drawn by the pearl rafts
floating on the calm sea is impressive. It is also called Bay of
Pearls. You can also enjoy the view of the Ago Bay from the sea on a
pleasure boat on the Espana Cruise that starts from the largest
islet in the bay, the Kashiko-jima Island.

There is a theme park called Shima Spain Mura Village, which
reproduces the famous places and townscape of Spain. Visitors can
have a taste of the charms of Spain with the buildings, food and
parades, and enjoy the rides in the amusement park. It is always
thronged with people of all ages.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 45 minutes from
Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. Then, take a limited express on
Kintetsu Line for 2 hours from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to
Kashiko-jima Station. If you are coming from Osaka, take a limited
express on Kintetsu Line for 2 hours and 20 minutes from Kamihoncho
Station to Kashiko-jima Station.

Toba
The island, the birthplace of Cultured PearlsAma, or woman divers
dive in the sea Toba, located at the north-eastern end of Shima-hanto Peninsula
in Mie, flourished as the castle town of the Kuki family who ruled
this region from the 17th century. It was also a landing spot for
visitors on the sea route to Ise-jingu Shrine and belongs to
Ise-Shima National Park.

Mikimoto Shinju-to Island, Iruka-to Island and many other islands
are in Ise Bay. Pearl Bridge connects the town and Mikimoto
Shinju-to Island, the place where Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in
culturing pearls for the first time in the world in 1893. There is a
model factory and a Pearl Museum on the island and visitors can
watch the processing of pearls and an ama, or a woman diver, diving.
Toba Suizoku-kan Aquarium has more than 850 kinds of sea creatures
kept in environment closest to their original habitats.

Fishing villages such as Ijika and Adako line the east coast of
Shima-hanto Peninsula, between Imaura, in the southeastern part of
the city of Toba, and Ugata. Ama who collects abalone and seaweed
are actively diving, and restaurants scattered in the area serve
very fresh seafood.

Getting thereFrom Tokyo Station, an hour 45 minutes by JR Tokaido Shinkansen
Line to Nagoya Station. From Kintetsu Nagoya Station, an hour 35
minutes to Toba Station by Kintetsu Line Limited Express. From
Osaka-Kami-honcho Station, an hour 45 minutes by Kintetsu Line
Limited Express to Toba Station.

Yunoyama-onsen Hot Spring
Hot spring discovered by a sight of bathing deer - Treasury of
alpine animals and plants, Mt. Gozaisho-yamaYunoyama-onsen is a hot spring resort dotted with inns on the
slope with the altitude of 318 meters along the Mitaki-gawa River in
the north Mie. The legend has it that the hot spring was discovered
from a sight of bathing deer in the 8th century, and Yunoyama-onsen
is thus also known as the Deer Hot Spring. A ceaseless flow of
visitors come all seasons to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, cool
climate in summer, coloring leaves in autumn and skiing and trees
covered with frozen mist in winter as well as the wonderful
panoramic view of the Ise Bay.

In the neighboring areas, there is Ao-taki Falls with 50-meter head,
and the Sangaku-ji Temple celebrates Sohei-matsuri Festival in
autumn. Sohei means soldier monks engaged in battles. The climax of
the festival is the parade of flaming palanquin carried by monks in
the sohei costume.

Mt. Gozaisho-yama is a beautiful peak in the Suzuka Mountain Range,
and is a treasury of alpine animals and plants. You can reach the
top from the hot spring resort by ropeway and lift. The altitude of
the mountaintop is 1,210 m, and you can enjoy the magnificent
panoramic view all around. There is the only zoo in the world
dedicated to serows and the "Japan Serow Center", a museum
exhibiting the seasonal sights, geographical features, flora,
insects, birds and small animals of Mt. Gozaisho-yama halfway up the
mountain.

Getting thereTake JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line for 1 hour and 40 minutes from
Tokyo Station or for 55 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya
Station. Then, take Kintetsu Line for 1 hour from Nagoya Station to
Yunoyama-onsen Station, and a bus for 10 minutes from Yunoyama-onsen
Station to Yunoyama-onsen